For her contribution to equestrian sports and the Olympic Movement, Her Royal Highness Princess Haya Al Hussein of Jordan, President of the International Equestrian Federation, was named the winner of the United States Sports Academy’s 2010 Eagle Award.

Princess Haya was Jordan’s first female professional athlete and the first female to represent her country internationally in sport, as a 13-year-old show jumper. She was the first female to medal in equestrian sports at the Pan-Arab Games, earning a bronze in show jumping. She also competed in the 2000 Summer Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia.

Academy Vice President Dr. T.J. Rosandich presented the 2010 Eagle Award, the Academy’s highest honor, to Her Royal Highness Princess Haya Al Hussein of Jordan, the President of the International Equestrian Federation, for the leadership she demonstrated in staging the 2010 Alltech International Federation for Equestrian Sports (FEI) World Equestrian Games held in Lexington, Kentucky, in October 2010.

In 2010, she became a member of the International Relations Committee for the International Olympic Committee (IOC), after serving three years on the IOC. In November 2010, she was re-elected to serve her 2nd term as President of the International Equestrian Federation, having been first elected in 2006. She is also president and founder of the International Jordanian Athletes Cultural Association.

Princess Haya has a strong humanitarian presence both on local and international levels. Her work and interests focus on humanitarian issues and human development concentrated primarily on the areas of health, education, youth and sports. She continues to raise awareness of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), especially those of eliminating poverty and hunger. She was the first Arab and first woman to serve as World Food Programme Goodwill Ambassador (2005-2007) and in September 2007, Princess Haya was selected by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon as a United Nations Messenger of Peace, the highest honor bestowed on a global citizen by the United Nations Secretary-General to address pressing problems around the world.

Princess Haya is the daughter of HM Late King Hussein Bin Talal of Jordan and HM Late Queen Alia Al Hussein and the wife of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

The Eagle Award is the United States Sports Academy’s highest international honor. It is presented to a world leader in sport to recognize that individual’s contributions in promoting international harmony, peace and goodwill through the effective use of sport. The recipient of this award must have tempered strength with keen judgment in using authority wisely as a means of bringing nations together through sport for the betterment of mankind.